A Bangor Marine who suffered catastrophic injuries in 2019 got a new home Wednesday thanks to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

USMC Lance Corp. Noah White, who has no movement or sensation from the neck down following a training accident, called his new home “stunning” and said it will give him a sense of independence.

“The house I’m in now I can’t really move around in,” he said with dozens of people gathered for a ceremony at the home. “It’s going to be amazing honestly.”

Tunnel to Towers was founded following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in honor of New York firefighter Stephen Siller, who ran through a tunnel to get to the Twin Towers but died while trying to save others.

His family created the foundation in his memory, and among other things, it gives specially adapted mortgage-free homes to catastrophically injured veterans and first responders.

On Wednesday, the foundation organized an event to welcome White to his new home, complete with a firetruck-led procession. White wheeled down the ramp from his van to a large crowd of family, friends and veterans, who greeted him with applause and smiles.

A color guard presented the U.S. and Marine Corps flags, followed by the National Anthem.

Bangor’s fire and police chiefs, City Councilor Cara Pelletier and state Sen. Stacey Guerin (R-Glenburn) all thanked White and his family for their sacrifice.

“Your sacrifice was not just one time, it’s ongoing,” Guerin said. “I just really admire his courage and the family’s courage.”

After the ribbon cutting, White headed into his new “smart” home, in which the lights, thermostat, security system and sound system can be controlled via an app.

White can use verbal commands to control the app and do things he’s never been able to do on his own, said his mother Shannon, who lives with him and is his caregiver.

“It’s giving him the independence he should have had years ago,” she said.

The new home features automatic exterior doors, wider hallways and a large bathroom to make everyday tasks easier for White.

While speaking to reporters after the ceremony, White said all the fanfare of getting a new home made him anxious. But the gift of a new mortgage-free home adapted to his needs and the independence it will bring is “amazing,” he said.

“They go through fire for you,” he said of the foundation. “They treat you like family. Independence is hard to come by when you’re a quadriplegic like myself.”

White was 19 when he joined the Marine Corps four years ago. Before deployment, he suffered his injuries in a training accident in California. He enjoys gaming and technology and uses his wheelchair to explore.

Since its founding, Tunnel to Towers has built more than 1,000 homes, which cost more than $500,000 to build. The foundation gets support from several corporations, including The Home Depot Foundation and GMC, and also accepts donations.

To donate, go to the group’s website.